Index tabs and production thereof



p 1961 w. B. WILKINSON 3,001,306

INDEX TABS AND PRODUCTION THEREOF Filed Feb. 20, 1956 IN VEN TOR. WaHer B. Wilkinson ATTORME Y United States Patent 3,001,306 INDEX TABS AND PRODUCTION 'EHEREOF Walter B. Wilkinson, Wilmot Woods, near Evergreen, Colo., assignor of small interests to various assignees Filed Feb. 20, 1956, Ser. No. 556,612 4 Claims. (Cl. 40-23) This invention relates to tabs selectively engageable with and to outstand beyond margins of sheet material for consequent exposure for convenient visual check of indexing or identifying indicia carried thereby or applied thereto, and has as an object to provide a novel and improved form and construction of such tabs.

A further object of the invention is to provide selectively-attachable index tabs conditioned for use as desired in a form and arrangement of pronounced convenience and facility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel in the form of a continuous succession of separable, like,

adhesively pressure sensitive units.

A further object of the invention is to provide a supply of index tabs that is susceptible of economical pro duction in an almost infinite variety of tab number and sequence, individual tab size, and indexing characteristic.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method and technique applicable to the production of index tabs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved method and technique economically ap plicable for the development of adhesively pressure sensitive tab elements from commonly-available materials.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and operative combination of elements, and in the nature and sequential relation of method steps, as hereinafter setforth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a unit package supply of index tabs exemplifying the principles of the invention as provided ready for practical use.

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view, on a relatively enlarged scale, of a fragment of the supply shown in FIGURE 1 as modified within the contemplation of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a single tab unit as separated from the supply for individual use.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the single tab unit according to FIGURE 3 as conditioned by a user for mounting in the desired use association.

FIGURE 5 is an elevation of a portion of a card or sheet with the index tab of FIGURE 4 mounted for practical use thereon.

Index tabs facilitative ofreferenceto books, files, and the like, are well known and extensively in use in a variety of forms and constructions appropriate for selective, individual attachment to cards and sheets for exposure of identifying characteristics to view outwardly from the card or sheet margin supporting the tab. The index tabs heretofore available have been less than satisfactory in meeting the many diverse problems incident to their'use, and the instant; invention is hence directed to the provi- Patented Sept. 26, 19:61,

sion of such tabs in novel and improved form of universal applicability, convenient utility, and enhanced practicality.

In accordance with the principles of the invention, the improved tabs are formed on and developed from a suitable length 10 of thin, flexible, strip or tape material coated on one side with pressure sensitive adhesive which is protected against deterioration prior to ultimate use by winding the material in a tight coil with the uncoated surface exposed, or by temporarily sealing the coated material under and against a coextensive cover of expendible type adapted to be stripped away and discarded prior to use of the coated material. Adhesively pressure sensitive strips and tapes suitable for the production of index tabs within the concept and contemplation of the instant invention are widely available in an extensive range of widths and lengths and a considerable diversity of material nature and properties. (Zommercial variations of pressure sensitive strips and tapes range from a rather heavy, opaque, fabric material through various weights of so-called plastic material, both opaque and transparcut, to a very thin cellulosic, or. paper, material which may be either opaque or transparent, and while the invention is susceptible of practical development from any adhesively pressure sensitive strip or tape material having one generally smooth, uncoated surface, considerations, of economy, practicality, and convenience distinguish as. preferable for practice of the invention a transparent, plasr tic tape or strip of medium to lightweight conventionally available in roll or coil form.

Utilizing conventional transparent, plastic, pressure sensitive tape in the preferred form typified by the roll or coil 11, production of the index tabs of the invention is initiated by establishing on the uncoated surface of the tape length 10 a uniformly-spaced succession of like,. rectangular, opaque areas 12. The opaque areas 12 span the width of the tape length 10 and are alike dimensioned longitudinally of the tape to an extent twice that desired for projection of the mounted tab outwardly from the. margin of an associaed card or sheet 13, as in FIGURE. 5, and said areas may be imprinted directly upon the tape surface by means of known appropriate inks applied thereto as the length is unwound from theroll or coil 11 and passed through apparatus conventionally employed for such printing operations, or said areas may be otherwise 7 constituted and developed upon the tape length, as by means of opaque overlays adhesively engaged therewith, or otherwise. However particularly constituted and applied tothe tape length 10, the opaque areas are uniformly spaced apart longitudinally of the tape a distance twice that desired for attaching overlie with respect to the card or sheet- 13 with which the tab is to be asso ciated, thus to leave a clear, and preferably transparent, area 14 of thetape in such extent between adjacent mar gins of the successive opaque areas 12. In a simple form of the invention adaptable toa variety of uses, the opaque areas 12 are left blank for subsequent use inthe manner hereinafter set forth as plain tabs to be marked with: desired indicia. by the user and the tape isrewound to roll or coil form. with the worked, non-adhesive surface outermost as. a unit supply, in any desired*length, of unmarked index tabs. Conditioning thetabsof the inveniion for use inalphabetical, numerical, or any other systematic indexing, the. indicia appropriate to the system, such as the alphabetical letters 15, or equivalent numerals, symbols, or the like, may be applied to or imposed upon theopaque areas 12, in any appropriate or preferred? succession, either at the time of. or subsequent tothe dea velopment of, said areas'upon the; tape, in whichz event, asi isxclearlyrepresented in: FIGURES 1 and? 3, the indieiai pertinent to eachtsuch area 12- are symmetrically repre=- sented thereon in duplicate longitudinally of the tape length 10; each representation of the pertinent indicia 15 occupying but one of the halves of the area 12 lying at either side of a line bisecting the area transversely of the,

tape.

' F acilitative of separation and use of the index tab succession constituted as above described, and as represented by FIGURE 2, a fold line 16 may be marked or scored transversely of the tape length 10 in bisecting relation with each of the opaque areas 12 and hence between the pair of duplicate indicia marked upon the area, and each clear area 14 between successive opaque areas 12 may be bisected by a tear line 17, or line of weakness, scored or punched transversely of the tape length, the development of such markings, scorings, or lines of weakness, as well as the representation of the indicia 15, being functions of known and conventional apparatus efiective to so operate upon the tape length it as the latter is unwound and passed therethrough.

The tape length 10 worked as represented in FIGURE 2is rewound to become a unit supply of index tabs available for storage, sale, and use. Obviously, the unit supply may be of the type first above described and characterized by blank opaque areas 12 without the transverse markings 1 6 and tear lines 17 or the supply may be characterized by the blank opaque areas, markings 16 and tear lines '17, either or both, or, as in FIGURE 1, the indicia may be displayed on the opaque areas 12 and the markings and tear lines omitted, one or the other, or both, or, as in FIGURE 2, the indicia, markings and tear lines may all be present in the same exemplification of the improvement, any desired combination of the features shown and described being within the contemplation of the invention.

An index tab for individual use being that portion of the tape length 10 defined between successive tear lines 17, or between successive transverse median lines of the areas 14, the practical use thereof should be readily manifest from the foregoing. A length of the tape being unwound to expose the first, or any desired, tab unit, the same is separated fromthe supply, either by cutting or tearing, along the transverse median lines of the areas 14 typified by the tear lines 17, thus to isolate the single tab unit in the form indicated by FIGURE 3. The so -isolated tab unit is then foided on the marking 16, or the transverse median line of the area 12, and interadhered, as by finger pressure, throughout the registered and superposed halves of its area 12 to provide a tab of double thickness characterized by like, opposed, opaque faces hearing, or suitable for the application of, indicia, from the inner margins of which tab the half portions of the areas 14 at each side of the opaque area 12 diverge to embrace and adhesively engage the margin of the card or sheet 1 3 to which the tab is to be applied; registration of an edge of the area 12 with the sheet or card margin and pressure-smoothing of the area '14 halves against the faces of the card or sheet 13 received therebetween being all that is required to securely attach the isolated tab in its position of use.

' The novel method and technique of index tab production peculiar to the invention is readily readable from the foregoing and comprises the correlated steps of applying a succession of like, opaque areas to and in a uniform longitudinal spacing along the uncoated surface of a pressure sensitive tape, either simultaneously or subsequently applying duplicated indicia in a symmetrical arrangement to each of said opaque area, and either simultaneously or subsequently marking the tape with the transverse fold and tear lines in the specified relation with the opaque and clear areas thereby traversed. Manifestly, when the tape utilized is initially in roll or coil form, the method includes rewinding of the tape to such form after it has been worked as described, but when the tape isinitially in the form of strips provided with a pro tective cover over the adhesive coating, the method is of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. An index tab selectively coactable with and'in partial projection beyond the margin of a sheet member, comprising a flexible, transparent strip coated on one surface with pressure sensitive adhesive, a rectangular, opaque area defined centrally of the uncoated strip surface length, and duplicate indicia defined on said areav in symmetrical relation with the transverse median line thereof, said area being foldable on its transverse median line to constitute a pressure-consolidated, bilaminate, opaque tab legibly exhibiting said indicia on its opposite faces between and projecting from the convergence of transparent strip terminal portions disposed to adhesively embrace a sheet margin therebetween.

2. An index tab selectively coactable with an in partial projection beyond the margin of a sheet member, comprising a flexible, transparent strip coated on one surface with pressure sensitive adhesive, a rectangular, opaque area defined centrally of the uncoated strip surface length, a fold line marking transversely bisecting said area and strip, and duplicate indicia defined on said area in symmetrical relation with said fold line, said area being foldable on said line marking to constitute a pressure-consolidated, bilaminate, opaque tab legibly exhibiting said indicia on its opposite faces between and projecting from the convergence of transparent strip terminal portions disposed to adhesively embrace a sheet margin therebetween.

3. An integrated supply of index tabs individually and selectively coactable with and in partial projection beyond the margin of a sheet member, comprising a flexible, transparent strip length coated on one surface with pressure sensitive adhesive, like, rectangular, opaque areas defined on the uncoated strip surface in a uniformly-spaced succession longitudinally of 'the strip length, and duplicate indicia defined on each of said areas in symmetrical relation with the transverse median line thereof, each of said areas being foldable on its transverse median line to constitute a pressure-consolidated, bilaminate, opaque tab legibly exhibiting said indicia on its opposite faces between and projecting from the convergence of transparent strip portions disposed in conforming relation of their coated surfaces at the same side of the tab.

4. An integrated supply of index tabs individually and selectively coactable with and in partial projection beyond the margin of a sheet member, comprising a flexible, transparent strip length coated on one surface with pressure sensitive adhesive, like, rectangular opaque areas defined on the uncoated strip surface in a uni formly-spaced succession longitudinally of the strip length, duplicate indicia defined on each of said areas in symmetrical relation with the transverse median line thereof, and a tear line transversely bisecting each strip length portion separating adjacent such areas, each said area and its associated transparent strip portions between adjacent tear lines being successively separable from the strip length and foldable on the transverse medianline of the area to constitute a pressure-consolidated, bilaminate, opaque tab legibly exhibiting said indicia on its opposite faces between and projecting from the converg References Cited in the file of this patent 1,853,098 Thompkins Apr. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTS Hirhfield 8- 4, 1942 2,317,899 Flexscher Apr. 27, 1946 486,755 wm V- 18-92 2 505 250 Kime 25 1950 1,495,353 Robertson y 27, 1924 5 2:507:559 Zalkind May 5, 1950 1,819,251 Law Aug. 18, 193 1 

